Display device



June28, 1960 w. G. HoRToN DISPLAY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1957 FIG. 3

(M l, R mw NT ,d mm 2 m WH \f n m wm e MQ M m L IIL Y W B O 2 3 Il |||||||||I| ll|\\ 5b. .-G-..-. um E D m5 o u n Unnw 2 .wm DGA ATTORNEYS June 28, 1960 G. HoRToN 2,942,364

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Oct. 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 you n "af-fn nlinn n L INVENToR. ils/J WILLIAM GRAY HoRToN BY @www @0% @Mw ATTORNEYS DISPLAY DEVICE William Gray Horton, Gray Horton Products, 22 Bruton St., Northampton, England Filed Oct. 30, 1 957, Ser. No. 693,438 Claims priority, application Great Britain Nov. 6, 1956 v Claims. (Cl. 40-63) This invention relates to display and like devices of the type comprising perforated plates of metal or other'suitable material adapted to receive and retain indicating means of various forms, and has for its object to improve the construction of such plates, whereby they are cheaper to produce, simpler to use and when joined to one another to form a large indicating surface they provide a more homogeneous iield than has hitherto been possible.

With early forms of such devices the perforated plates were made to required sizes and the perforations stopped short of the bounding edges of the plates. vHowever, with the experience ofuse, it became obvious that' the needs 4of technicians and business men required perfo- 4 rated plates to beA of larger size than the standard sizes manufactured. As a consequence, standard-sized perfo` rated plates were arranged side by side and one above the other, but even then considerable inconvenience was caused by the inability to continue a line or block of indicators from one plate to another.

ln an endeavourto overcome this inconvenience, the arrangement first shown inthe specification of applicants United StatesV Patent 2,551,539, dated May 1, 1951 was adopted. In this the edges of the plates are arranged at the half positions of parallel perforations disposed at right angles to said edge so that when two plates are juxtaposed the edge of one comprising a plurality of such right-angled half perforations joins with a similar edge of the other, thus to complete the line of perforations and give continuity to the built-up perforated surface. When moulded from a plastic material, anged yplates according to this arrangement proved to be impractical due to the plates shrinking unevenly and to cracking and breaking which occurred mainly at the corners; moreover, the largest unit it was commercially possible to mould, was too small.

Another attempt to overcome the inconvenience was as set forth in the specification of applicants United States Patent 2,769,553, dated November 6, 1956.' Here the objects were the same as those set out in the specification of Patent 2,551,539 but as the plates were made from metal they were practical within certain limitations. These limitations became apparent after a few years commercial working land include unduly high cost of manufacture especially in relation to the tooling, number of operations to produce va plate, and high percentage of rejected plates. Again, with the two juxtaposed plates, frequently at the junction the indicator devices were disposed partly at the edge of one plate and partly at the edge of the adjacent plate. Asa result, when, as frequently occurred, it became necessary to separate the two plates and interpolate an additional plate, it was necessary to remove these indicators to prevent their accidental displacement. Diiculties also occurred in mounting endless bands (forming indicators) on such plates as such endless bands could not extend to the actual edge of a plate and an obvious visual break of necessity occurred United States Patent "ce in using such indicator means when passing from one plate .to the next adjacent. Further, owing to the fact 2,942,364 Patented June 28, 1,960

that the edges of the plates finished at half-length perforations, calculations involving the available spaces for display were unduly complicated.

The present invention has for its primary object to overcome these and other drawbacks.

`According'to the present invention, a perforated plate, for a display and like device of the type set forth, is formed rectangular and has rows of uniformly spaced similar substantially rectilinear perforations therethrough which extend parallel to its edges to define and bound an exact number 'of unit square-shaped areas on the surface of the plate. Further, each of the four boundaries of the plate cuts through a row of aligned perfor-ations to leave at each boundary of the plate opensided notches having a depth substantially equal to half the width of a perforation.

In this manner when two such plates are mounted with their similar edges in contact, the notches in the edge of one plate associate-themselves with the similar notches in the edge of the other plate to givev absolute unbroken and unhindered continuity from one plate to the other.

Preferably, each plate has on and extending beyond its bounding edges, a rearwardly bent integral ilange andv a width of substantially half a perforation in all the bound-V ing edges of the plate.

In this manner when one plate is mounted against asimilar plate the contacting flanges can be bolted together to hold the parts in position and to leave a continuous perforated display surface. Again, in some cases, in place of bolting the plates together by their ilanges these main flanges can have auxiliary hook-like flanges byl which the plates are suspended by a wall rail or the like to bring them into the required adjacent positions and allow for ready sliding movement the one from the other.

As hitherto, the indicators for mounting on the perforated plate are generally shaped to cover a unit area of one square on the perforated plate or a multiple of said unit.

Now as the perforated plate has complete unit squares extending along all its four edges, it follows that indicators can be disposed along any one or all of these edges so that their boundariesV coincide with the edge or edges.

'Consequently,las such disposition of indicators can be arranged oneach of two adjacent plates, visual continuity of a row or bank of indicators is assured although some indicators are on one plate and some on the other.

The indicators mounted at the edge of a plate should have their attaching means to the plate so shaped and disposed that it engages only the plate on which the indicator is mounted and not the other plate also. Ready Fig. 3 shows to a smaller scale a perforated blank` to be bent up to form the flanged perforated plate shown A in Figs. f1 and 2.

Fig.'4 shows a fragmentaryelevation of the meeting corners of four juxtaposed perforated plates, to the same.

scale and'as shown in Figs. l and'2;

. Fig. 5 shows a cross section on the line 55, Fig. 4. 'Fig 6 shows a somewhat similar view to Fig. 4 but with a row of tabbed indicators in position.

AVV ..f mFig. 'Zushows a fragmentaryelevation of Itwo adjacent perforated plates as shown Figs. 1 and 2 with indicators of card form in position.

8 shows an elevationlof a portion of a perforated plate as shown in Fig.4 l, with an endless band indicator in position, and

Q shows. a vertical section through the plate and indicator of Fig.' 8. v I n Figsl and 2,10 is a rectangular metal plate having boundaries 11-12, 11-13, 12 -14 and 13-14. This has passing therethrough rows of regularly spaced aligned similar rectilinear' p erforationsl which are parallel to the boundaries 11-12 and 13-14, and other similar and similarly arranged rectilinearperforations 16 which are parallel to the boundaries 1l-1 3 and 12--14. Y The perforationsand 16 are so relatively disposed that they bound and define a number of unit square-shaped areas; 17 on the surfaee of theplate 10.. Ad diti0i ially, the. boundaries 11-12 and 13--14 cut through rows or perforations 15 to l leave regularly spaced opensided notches 18 having a depth equal .to substantiallyhalf the width of the rectilinear perforations 15 or 16. Similarly,

the boundaries 11-13 and 12-14 cut through rows of perforations 16 to leave regularly spaced open-sided notches 19 having a depth equal to substantially half thewidth of the rectilinear perforations 15 or 16...

'.Each boundingedge has a rearwardly bent integral flange 20 bent along the bounding line and the rightliand lower part of Fig. 3 and the lower part of Fig. 2 show` how. in some cases, the half-perforationfwidth notches 18 extend into rectangular apertures 21 which pass through the parallel ilanges 20, and the other half-perf. forationwidth notches 19 extend into similar rectangular apertures 22`whch pass through the other twoparalllel flanges 20. These rectangular apertures 21 aren'ot neces sary, however, and are'not included in Fig. 5. 1

The rear of the flanges .20 ispartly cut awayat :the-

four corners at ,23 and .theintermediate portions. ofthe flanges 2d .at the rear are extended and bent inwardly to form integral hoolclikeauxiliary. anges 24, by any one of which the perforated plate can be suspended from a hanged wall rail or the like. The anges 20 also have bolt hores 25 in similar positions, toprovide for adjacen plates to be bolted together when required.

As will be appreciated from an inspection of Fig. 3, theV boundaries of the. perforatedy plate pass through the boundary rows of perforations 15 and 16 in order to'form and leave the opensided notches 18 or 19 when the ilanges 2) are bent along lthe boundary lines, in the manner indicated in Fig. 5. .This Fig. 5 alsor shows how one rof the ordinary lugs 47 of an indicator 48 is .bent under the indicator before it is inserted into one only of .two associated notches at the junction between two plates, by moving it after insertion through the notch of one plate` in the 'direction of the arrow 49. By this means the bent lug 47 is located under the plate which carries the indicator and does not engage the adjacent plate in any way whatever. This permits ready separation of the plates, if and when required, without removing any of the indicators. l

-In Fig.` 4, the four corners of four perforated plates 26,27, 28 Aand 29 have junction lines Sil-31 and 32--33 between them and it will be appreciated from the figure how the notches 18 and 19 at thesev junction lines coincide to permit continuity of display.

Fig. 6 illustrates the manner in which a row of lugged indicators 34 can be disposed at the' edge of one of -the plates of a group such as shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 6 it will be seen that the right-hand indicator 314 has a bent-back -lug such as |47 (Fig. 5) at its right-hand side, and that a similar lug is disposed at the upperedgeV of the indicator 34 whichv is located in the intermediate position. The indicator at the left-hand side has two normallyV projecting lugs. ltwill be appreciated that? this method of mounting the'indicators 34 on the plate 2 9;V

. whereby they engage with edge notches or perforations on this plate only, permits this plate to be withdrawn from the plates 26, 27 and 28 when desired, without having to remove any indicators. However, if it is necessary to continue the row of indicators on to the plate 28, this readily can be done without any visual break but these indicators will have lugs which engage only with the notches or perforations of theplate 28. Similarly, other ind ica tor s canbe. disposed at the lower edge of the plate 26, to b a nk wit h those on-the plate 2 9 to give visual continuity to the bank and not to require removing when the plates are separated.'

In Fig. 7 two perforated rplates 35 and 36 have a junction line 37-38 between them. A lugged indicator card 39 of the kind setl forth in the specication of applicants United States patent application Serial No. 438,560, tiled June 22, 1954, now Patent No. 2,814,894, is shown on thetplate 36 coveringan area vof six unit squaresjand with one edge flush with theA junction line Aaudit will be appreciated that its-lugs engageonly perforatioi'is in the plate 36. Another similar indicator card 4 0 is shown immediately below the card 39, also with an edge flush with the junction line, the disposition of the lugs on the cards readily permitting .this. If. it is desired thelonger edges of these cards should come ush with the junction line, then the lug or lugs at this longer edge must be bent back into hook-likefform to engage the notch or. notches in the edge of the plate on which the card is to be disposed.v g

v The notches 18 or 1 9 `in the boundaries of the per; forated plates permit the satisfactory use of endless band indicators.. One of the se, 42, is shown in position on the perforated plate .43 in Fig. 8. This plate 43 hasat its two edges 44 and 4S, notches'lS as before described, and intoand around these notches the endless band can pass from side edge to side .edge of the plate. This gives' end at an edge of theperforated plate but may extendl betweenany two parallel rectilinear perforations coming at the same level of the plate. Preferably, the endless band indicators employed are for half of their length of one colour and half anotherY colour, which may match the colour o f the display sur-v face of the plate. By4 this means a desired length of the contrasting colour, indicated by shading lines at 46, Fig.'-

8,'=can be brought tothe display position, according to the information being displayed. v

.The invention is not limited tothe precise forms or details of construction herein described, as these may be varied to suit particular requirements.

Iclaimz. 1. A perforated plate, for a display or like device, formed rectangular and havingtherethrough rows of uniformly spaced similar substantially rectilinear perforations extending parallel to its edges, each of thefour edges of thel plate cutting through a said row of aligned substantially rectilinear perforations to leave at each edge ofthe plate opensidednotches having a 'depth substantially equal to half the width of a substantially rectilinear perforation, the open sided notches and the perforations being so constructed and arranged as to dene and bound an exact number of unit square-shaped areas on the surface of the plate, said plate also having on and extend-v ing-beyond each of its edges a rearwardly bent integral irange, the vlines of bending coinciding with rows .of aligned rectilinear perforations to leave the open-sided notches at the edges of the plate. h

2. A perforated plate according to claim .1, in which the open-sided notches at the edges of .the ,plate extend into -rectangular apertures through the flanges.

rectilinear similar perforations extending therethrough, Y

said perforations being arranged in horizontal and vertical rows extending parallel to the edges of the plate, each of the edges of the plate being coaxial with the axis of a longitudinally aligned row of perforations to form in each edge of the plate open-sided notches having a depth substantially equal to half the width of a perforation, the open-sided notches and the perforations being so constructed and arranged as to deiine and bound an'exact number of unit square-shaped areas on the surface lof the plate, said display or like device also including an integral flange extending rearwardly from each of the edges of the plate, the remainder of each perforation in the row from which said `notches are formed extending through a flange.

4. A display or like device comprising a plurality of rectangular plates according to claim 3 arranged side by side with the adjacent anges of theplates secured together and the notches along adjacent edges aligned.

5. A perforated plate for a display or like device, formed rectangular and having therethrough rows of uniformly spaced similar perforations the centers of each perforation in a row forming an axis, said axis extending parallel to the edges of said plate, at least one edge of said plate cutting through a said axis to form in said edge open-sided notches having a depth substantially equal to half the width of a perforation, the open-sided notches `and the perforations being so constructed and arranged as to define and bound an exact number of unit areas on the surface of said plate, said display and like device also including an integral flange extending rearwardly from at least one of the edges of the plate, the remainder of each perforation in the row of which said notches are formed extending through a ange.

6. A display or like device comprising a plurality of rectangular plates according to claim 5 arranged side by side with the adjacent anges of the plates secured together and the notches along adjacent edges aligned.

7. A perforated plate for a display or like device,

formed rectangular having therethrough rows of uniformly spaced similar substantially rectilinear perforations extending parallel to its edges, atleast one edge of said plate cutting through a said row of aligned perforations .to form in said edge open-sided notches having a depth substantially equal to hal-f the width of a perforation, the open-sided notchesand the perforationsbeing so constructed and arranged as to define and bound an exact number of unit square-shaped areas on the surface of said plate, said display or like device also including an integral ange extending rearwardly from at least one of the edges of the plate, the remainder of each perforation in the row from which said notches are formed extending through a flange.V

8. A display or like device comprising -a plurality of rectangular plates according to claim 7l arranged side by side with the adjacent flanges of the plates secured together and the notches along adjacent edges aligned.

9. In combination, a display or like device. as set forth in claim 6 and a series of marking indicators secured thereto by means of the perforations in said plates, the parts being so constructed and arranged that a continuous pattern of said marking indicators may be arranged on said display device which will be uninterrupted by the joining lines between plates and which may be arranged in such a manner that a plate may be removed without disturbing indicators secured to an adjacent plate.

10. In combination, a display or like device as set yforth -in claim 8 and a series of marking indicators secured thereto by means of the perforations in said plates, the parts being so constructed and arranged that a continuous pattern of said marking indicators may be arranged on said display device which will be uninterrupted `by .the joining lines between plates and which may be arranged in such a manner that .a plate may be removed without disturbing indicators secured to an adjacent plate.

References Cited in the le of this patent i UNITED STATES PATENTS 

